Spray applicator

ABSTRACT

A spray applicator consisting of a top adapter  5  and a bottom cover  7 , wherein the adapter  5 , which can be placed on the cover  7 , has a spray pump  2  with an uptake tube  4  and a connection element  11  for an opening  13  of a bottle  6 . The adapter  5  has at least two opposing first snap-in elements  15  on a lower end  34 , wherein the cover  7  is designed as a cup  18  and has a receiving support  35  for the bottle  6 . The cover  7  has a notch  19  coming from an upper edge  30  of the cover  7  on two opposing sides  23  with each notch being designed as a window  24 , wherein there is an opposing wall  28  offset at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to both windows  24  with each wall having an upper second snap-in element  16 . The first and the second snap-in elements  15, 16  jointly effect a reclosable snap connection  14 ,wherein external manual pressure p applied to both walls  28  in the upper area will loosen the snap connection  14  (FIG.  1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spray applicator according to the features indicated in the preamble of Claim 1.

Spray applicators according to the features indicated in the preamble of Claim 1 are known in the most varied of embodiments via public use. The spray applicator, which has multiple uses, is used to spray a liquid product usually from a single-portion bottle made of glass.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to obtain a generically equivalent spray applicator with a simple construction and wherein the bottle is enclosed on all sides.

This object is achieved according to the features of the indicated part of claim 1. Additional advantageous developments/embodiments of the present invention result from the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail by means of an exemplary embodiment.

The following is shown:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a spray device;

FIG. 2 shows a side section of the spray device according to FIG. 1, but in a ready-for-operation status;

FIG. 3 shows a side section of a cover latched to an adapter;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view X according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the view from underneath the adapter;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the adapter according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a side section of the adapter according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a detailed view Y according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a side section of the cover according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 shows a side section of the cover according to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the cover according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a detailed view Z according to FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the composite, ready-to-use spray applicator according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTATION

FIG. 1 shows a spray applicator 1 consisting of a top adapter 5 and a bottom cover 7, wherein the adapter 5, which can be placed on the cover 7, has a spray pump 2 with an uptake tube 4 and a connection element 11 for an opening 13 of a bottle 6. The adapter 5 has two opposing first snap-in elements 15 (FIG. 7) on a lower end 34. The cover 7 is designed as a cup 18 and has a receiving support 35 for the bottle 6. The cover 7 has a notch 19 coming from an upper edge 30 of the cover 7 on two opposing sides 23 with each notch being designed as a window 24. There is an opposing wall 28 offset at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to both windows 24 with each wall having an upper second snap-in element 16. The first and the second snap-in elements 15, 16 jointly effect a reclosable snap connection 14, wherein external manual pressure p (FIG. 3) applied to both walls 28 in the upper area will disengage the snap connection 14.

The cover 7 consists of one part made of plastic. The adapter 5 has four first snap-in elements 15 offset at a right angle, whereby said adapter can be easily snapped onto the cover 7 at a right angle.

FIG. 1 shows the entire spray applicator 1 in an exploded view. The spray applicator 1 consists of a commercially available spray pump 2 with a screw thread 3 and an inserted uptake tube 4. An adapter 5 is a part made of plastic in an injection molding process. A bottle 6 is manufactured from glass and is offered as a standard part by various manufacturers.

The cover 7 is manufactured from plastic the same as the adapter 5.

FIG. 2 shows the spray applicator 1 in a cutout and installed. The pump 2 is screwed to the adapter 5, wherein the screw thread 3 of the pump 2 is screwed to the screw thread 9 of the adapter 5. The uptake tube 4 of the pump 2 extends up to the base 10 of the bottle 6. The bottle 6 is placed on a connection element in 11 of the adapter 5 and lightly tensioned using the bottle opening 13. In addition, the adapter 5 and the cover 4 are snapped together using a snap connection 14 which can be loosened.

FIG. 3 shows the adapter 5 and the cover 7 in a cutout section and in a locked condition, wherein the detailed view X (FIG. 4) shows the first and second snap-in elements 15 and 16 in an enlarged cut-out.

FIGS. 5 through 8 show the adapter 5. A thread 9 of the adapter 5 is used to connect the spray pump 2. The connection element 11 is ring-shaped and has a first lead-in chamfer 17 or a radius at the lower end for better pre-centering and insertion into a bottle opening 13 of the bottle 6. The centering studs 12, of which there are preferably four, are also components of the adapter 5. Each side of the adapter 5 has an undercut 20 on the interior and is intended for the snap-in with the second snap-in elements 16 of the cover 7. The first snap-in elements 15 of the adapter 5 are snapped together with the undercut 20 of the cover 7. The first lead-in chamfers 17 of the adapter 5 and second lead-in chamfers 21 of the cover 7 enable pre-centering and spreading out of the first snap-in element 15 of the adapter 5 and the second snap-in element 16 of the cover 7.

FIGS. 9 through 12 represent the cover 7, and the cover is also manufactured as a single part in an injection molded process. Outer ribs 22 are used for gripping and as identification of a pressure zone for manual pressure on the wall 28. The outer ribs 22 are arranged opposite each other on the exterior side 23 of the cover 7 in the upper area. The four centering and recess studs 29 are preferably arranged in the four comers 25 of the cover 7 on the inside and provided with a cascade-shaped recess 26. Each of the two snap-in elements 16 are provided with a second lead-in chamfer 21 and an undercut 20. The cover 7 has a window 24 on each of two opposing sides 23; these windows make it possible to see the fill level 31 of the glass bottle 6, whereby an elastic zone is formed to released the snap connection 14.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the composite and ready-to-use spray applicator according to FIG. 1.

A Description on How to Use the Spray Applicator 1:

The spray applicator 1 is delivered ready-for-use, i.e. the spray pump 2, the adapter 5, and the cover 7 are already assembled. In order to use a product 27 to be sprayed (cosmetic product, particularly a cosmetic product for hair, such as a hair conditioner) the cover 7 must first be loosened from the adapter 5. This is done by pressing the walls 28 of the cover 7 up against the two opposing sides 23 in the area of the outer ribs thus releasing the first and the second snap-in elements, 15 and 16. Subsequently, the filled, but still open, bottle 6 is inserted upwards into the adapter 5 using the bottle opening 13. The bottle 6 is centered via the outer ribs 22, and the connection element 11 extends into the bottle opening 13 and seals it; in addition, a certain hold is provided due to a slight over-sizing of the connection element 11 with respect to the bottle 6. The cover of 7 is then rejoined with the adapter 5 and is locked into place with said adapter. The centering studs 29 extend beyond the upper edge 30 of the cover 7 and thus ensure pre-centering with the adapter 5 and simultaneously make it possible to correctly position the height of the bottle 6, due to the cascade-shaped recess 26, using a bottom stop 33 on the base of the bottle. The windows 24 ensure that it is possible to see into the bottle 6 and/or to see the fill level 31, and they simultaneously support the “pressing together” of both walls 28 in the area of the outer ribs 22. The cover 7 can be adjusted by 90 degrees to fit the adapter 5, because the adapter 5 has a first snap-in element 15 on all four interior sides 32; the interior sides make it possible to anchor both first snap-and elements 15 of the cover 7.

The spray applicator 1 can optionally be provided with a circular base surface instead of the square base surface, whereby placement of the adapter 5 onto the cover 7 (cup 18) at an angle of 90 degrees no longer occurs.

REFERENCE LIST

1 Spray applicator

2 Spray pump

3 Screw thread

4 Uptake tube

5 Adapter

6 Bottle

7 Cover

8 Bottle neck geometry

9 Thread/adapter 4

10 Base

11 Connection element

12 Centering stud

13 Bottle opening

14 Snap connection

15 First snap-in element

16 Second snap-in element

17 First lead-in chamfer

18 Cup

19 Notch

20 Undercut

21 Second lead-in chamfer

22 Outer rib

23 Exterior side

24 Window

25 Comer

26 Cascade-type recess

27 Product

28 Wall/cover 6

29 Centering and recess stud

30 Upper edge

31 Fill level

32 Interior side

33 Bottle base stop

34 Lower end/adapter 5

35 Bottle support

p Manual pressure

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A spray applicator (1), comprising a top adapter (5) and a bottom cover (7), wherein the adapter (5), which can be placed on the bottom cover (7), has a spray pump (2) with an uptake tube (4) and a connection element (11) for an opening (13) of a bottle (6), wherein the adapter (5) has at least two opposing first snap-in elements (15) on a lower end (34), and wherein the bottom cover (7) is designed as a cup (18) and has a receiving support (35) for the bottle (6), and wherein the bottom cover (7) has a notch (19) coming from an upper edge (30) of the cover (7) on two opposing sides (23) with each notch being designed as a window (24), and wherein there is an opposing wall (28) offset at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to both windows (24) with each wall having an upper second snap-in element (16), and wherein the first and the second snap-in elements (15, 16) jointly effect a reclosable snap connection (14), wherein external manual pressure (p) (FIG. 3) applied to both walls (28) in the upper area will loosen the snap connection (14).
 2. A spray applicator according to claim 1, wherein the cover (7) is a single part comprised of plastic.
 3. A spray applicator according to claim 1, wherein the adapter (5) is provided with four first snap-in elements (15) offset at a right angle.
 4. A spray applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spray applicator (1) has a square base surface.
 5. A spray applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spray applicator (1) has a circular base surface.
 6. A spray applicator according to claim 1, wherein the product (27) is a cosmetic product selected from the group consisting of cosmetic products used on hair and hair conditioners. 